Abiotic stress is one of the greatest challenges facing crops, affecting their development, sustained yield, and quality. This type of stress is caused by adverse environmental factors and forces plants to activate complex adaptive mechanisms to survive.
In this Artal article, we’ll explore what abiotic stress is, its main types, and how crops become resilient to these challenges. We’ll also present the innovative solutions Artal offers to protect and enhance plants against these adverse conditions. Let’s get started!
What is abiotic stress?
Let’s start with the definition of abiotic stress. This type of stress refers to adverse environmental conditions that affect plant growth, development, and productivity. This type of stress is caused by non-living factors, such as drought, extreme temperatures, excess salinity, pollution, or radiation, which disrupt plants’ normal physiological and metabolic processes.
Unlike biotic stress, which results from living organisms such as pests or diseases, abiotic stress is a constant in sustainable agriculture, especially in the context of climate change, where extreme environmental conditions are increasingly frequent.
Types of abiotic stress
Within abiotic stress, water, heat, and salt stress are three of the main threats to plants. We delve into them below.
Water and thermal stress
Water stress occurs when there is an imbalance in water availability, either due to drought or overwatering, affecting essential processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, and nutrient transport.
On the other hand, heat stress arises when plants are exposed to extreme temperatures, both high and low, which alter the structure of vital proteins and enzymes, decrease photosynthetic efficiency, and can even cause tissue damage. Both types of stress can significantly reduce crop productivity and require specific stress mitigation strategies.
Salinity stress
Salinity stress occurs when plants grow in soils with high concentrations of soluble salts, such as chlorides and sulfates, which limit the availability of water and essential nutrients. This type of stress negatively affects plant growth and development, as salts can cause toxicity, ionic imbalance, and a reduction in the root’s water absorption capacity due to the osmotic effect. Crops in arid or semi-arid regions, or those irrigated with saline water, are especially vulnerable to this problem, which can significantly reduce agricultural yield and crop quality.
Plant defense mechanisms against stress
In these lines, we will explain how crops respond to stress management.
- Production of osmoprotectants. Plants generate compounds such as proline or soluble sugars that help maintain water balance in their cells.
- Osmotic adjustment. They adapt the concentration of solutes in their tissues to retain water and prevent dehydration.
- Synthesis of antioxidants.They produce molecules such as the enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase, which neutralize free radicals generated by stress.
- Genetic regulation. Natural defenses such as the production of protective proteins, such as chaperones, which stabilize cellular structures under adverse conditions.
- Structural modifications.They develop physical adaptations, such as stomatal closure to reduce water loss or tissue thickening to withstand extreme salinity and temperatures.
- Hormonal communication. They use hormones such as abscisic acid (ABA) to signal and coordinate responses to environmental stress4
The best solutions in Artal
At Artal, we offer specific agricultural solutions to help plants cope with abiotic stress. For water and heat stress, we recommend Aminotal Super and Algaton, rich in amino acids that strengthen plant resistance. For salt stress, we offer Fertiorgan Calcium, a product specifically developed to combat the effects of salinity. Below, we discuss these solutions in detail.
Aminotal Super
Aminotal Super is a bioactivator designed to help plants overcome stressful situations, especially during critical stages of their development. Its formulation, based on low-molecular-weight free amino acids, activates biological processes, improves nutrient uptake, and reinforces the action of phytosanitary products. It is also ideal for cold conditions, as it increases plant vigor and improves their resistance to disease. Thus, it is an effective solution for strengthening crops during times of increased stress.
Algaton
Algaton is a physiological inducer that reduces water and heat stress in plants thanks to its composition based on seaweed extracts, such as Ascophyllum nodosum, natural phytohormones, and amino acids. This product stimulates growth, flowering, and metabolic processes, helping plants overcome adverse conditions and improve fruit quality and consistency. It is especially useful during key stages of crop development, such as budding, pre-flowering, and ripening.
Fertiorgan calcium
Fertiorgan Calcium mitigates salinity stress thanks to its calcium base complexed with lignosulfonates and high-quality organic fertilizer. This product improves soil structure and physicochemical properties, displaces harmful sodium, and activates the assimilation of essential nutrients. It also promotes microbial activity and increases sustainable soil fertilization, promoting healthy crop development even in high salinity conditions.
In conclusion, abiotic stress is a significant challenge for crops, but with the right solutions, such as Aminotal Super, Algaton, and Fertiorgan Calcium, its impact can be reduced. These Artal products help optimize crops, improving plant resistance and promoting their development.